Dry throat is a relatively rare condition. What we call the throat, anatomically speaking, corresponds to the oropharynx and continues with the laryngopharynx. The food we eat passes through it to go to the esophagus, and the air we breathe goes to the windpipe.
Dry throat has a wide variety of causes, as we will see below, but few of them are related to some diseases. Regardless of the grounds and its rare presentation, it is a very annoying condition because it can cause pain in the throat, cough, and even hinder the generation of the voice, thus making speech difficult.
In the following FastlyHealarticle, we will explain in detail what are the causes of dry throat and the best remedies to relieve it effectively.
Table of Contents
Dry throat: causes
As we have commented previously, the causes of dry throat causes are very varied. Among them are:
Lack of water intake
The most trivial cause, the easiest to solve, but also the one that originates up to 80% of cases. The lack of water intake causes not only a dry throat, but it can also be the cause of headaches, joints, and even a bad mood. So the recommendation of the “8 glasses of water a day” (minimum) retakes validity.
Breathe through the mouth
The second cause. The nose performs three essential functions: heats the air we breathe, humidifies it, and filters it.
When we open our mouths to breathe (consciously or unconsciously, awake or asleep), cold, dry air enters with many elements that can affect us. This cause causes many people to complain of a dry throat when sleeping. The following article gives excellent advice on stopping sleeping with your mouth open.
Dry environment
Arid environments with very little air humidity limit the work that the nose can develop to humidify it, producing the same situation as when you breathe through the mouth.
Allergies
The saliva we produce and swallow is responsible for keeping our throat moist. Many allergies alter the amount of froth that we secrete, with which the situation of the dry throat will be generated.
Be careful: some medicines that we use to fight allergies can also cause this.
Smoking
Undoubtedly, tobacco is one of the greatest enemies of our health.
One effect produced by tobacco is to decrease saliva production and change the tissue that lines the throat, which is why most smokers have a permanent “hawk,” having to increase their water intake.
Viral infections
Infections caused by the mononucleosis virus or the Cossack virus can cause a dry throat, among other alterations that they cause in your body. Likewise, they can cause a sore throat that may not be related to the same inflammation but only to the lack of humidity.
Dry throat from anxiety
Anxiety and depression have been noted as causes of a dry throat. The hormones produced in either of these two conditions can alter saliva production and lead to this state.
Immune disorders
The syndrome Sjrögen (a rare immune disorder), lupus, and arthritis are immunological disorders that may present with the dry throat as accompanying symptoms.
Nutritional deficiencies
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency can cause a dry throat as one of its manifestations, as can vitamin C deficiency.
Dry throat from medications
The drugs that you can use to control your blood pressure, asthma, and even some pain relievers can have a dry throat as a side effect, which we often do not associate with them.
How to remove dry throat: treatment
The most critical medical recommendations to remove a dry throat are:
- The easiest, most logical, and most straightforward way to clear a dry throat is by drinking water. Although it seems obvious, it is necessary to point it out because many people (perhaps you) have a terrible habit of not drinking it, and others “forget” to do so.
- In those cases where the person asleep or awake breathes through the mouth, any alteration at the level of the nasopharynx (generally, adenoids ) should be ruled out and the problem corrected, which also solves the situation of a dry throat.
- The dry environment can be updated by placing humidifying equipment, and for allergies or viral infections, the doctor must indicate specific treatment that does not induce this side effect.
- Of course, smoking should be stopped (which is not a habit but a vice), and you should seek the necessary psychological help to treat both anxiety and depression if any of them exist. In the following article, you can see suitable tobacco substitutes to quit smoking.
- If any medication has produced the dryness, the dose should be adjusted or replaced by another that fulfills the same function without the unwanted effect.
Dry throat: medications
There are tablets for free distribution and sale in pharmacies to relieve the “sore throat.” Most of them fulfill the function we need: they induce and increase saliva production, with which 80% of the problem is solved.
It is also possible to find mouthwashes specially designed for dry mouths, such as those containing xylitol that, in addition to helping to prevent cavities, also increase saliva production.
Dry throat remedies
Some home remedies, Grandma’s recipes, are 100% effective in helping lessen symptoms and relieve dry throat. The ones that can offer you the best results are:
Warm saltwater
Heat water, place it in a glass, and dilute one teaspoon of salt. When it is warm, gargle with this preparation. This procedure can be repeated 3 or 4 times a day.
Honey with lemon
Dilute 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey in the juice of half a lemon and drink this syrup. The honey will create a layer that will humidify your throat, while the lemon will help reestablish the area’s average humidity. At the same time, they will act as anti-inflammatories, also exerting an analgesic effect and fighting some germs.
Onion Lemon Tea
Boil 1 onion cut into pieces in 1 liter of water and dissolve sugar or honey to give it some flavor and the juice of 1 or 2 lemons. Strain the water, and you can drink it several times a day to alleviate the symptoms.
Milk with honey or butter
Heat a glass of milk and dissolve one tablespoon of honey or 1 level teaspoon of butter. This preparation can be taken 1 or 2 times a day to relieve symptoms and help relieve a dry throat.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Dry Throat: Causes and Remedies to Relieve It, we recommend entering our Ear, Nose, and Throat category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.